Typewriting machine



April 21, 1931, w, DQBSQN 1,801,544

: TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original Filed Dec; 5. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l war/7% April 21, 1931. w. A. DOBSON TYPEIRITING IACHINE Original Filed Dec. 5. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 21, 1 931. DQBSQN 1,801,544

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 5. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 21, 1931 {UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM A. DOIBSON, OF BRIDGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 'IO UNDERWOOID ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original application filed December 5, 1922, Serial No. 605,006. Divided and this application filed November 10, 1926.

The present, invention relates to typewriting machines. As to certain features thereof, the invention more particularly relates to machines of the so-called portable class, and to machines in which the platen carriage has its movements in letter-feed I I body of the carriage-supporting frame, with respect to another carriage rail, to bring the rails up and down into parallel, and when so adjusted may be securely locked in level position. The carriage-guiding element of the shift-frame is mounted for a translatory movement, to present the platen properly to the types.

It is usual in the ordinary Underwood machine to provide for slight forward and backward adjustment of either end of the platen-frame, and hence of the platen, so as to bring the printing surface thereof into exact parallelism with the direction of travel of the carriage, and also into exact position for receiving the blows of the types, as set forth in Patent 1,405,412, to W. F. Helmond. It is the practice in said Underwood machine to allow the type-bars to contact with a so-called stop ring or anvil in the form of a metal segment (see Helmond Patent 1,563,085v and Dobson Patent 1,564,329), whereby the type-bars are positively arrested near their fulcrum ends at the instant of printing. This has made it desirable to provide for delicate forward and backward adjustments of the platen, in order to insure the desired strength of typeimpressions, and an even quality thereof throughout the line of typing.

This forward and backward adjustment of the platen is secured by improved means in the present invention, by arranging to Serial No. 147,594.

adjust the platen together with the platencarriage, and as well the shift-track element which supports and guides the carriage.

The shift-key levers and the shift-look devices are connected with the adjustable element 88, 96 in a manner to preserve their proper operative relation at all adjustments of the element 88, 96, inasmuch as said levers and said lock act upon the members 15 which are not disturbed by such adjustment of said element 88, 96. i

The invention hence includes the provision of means for adjusting the setting of the carriage as it rides upon the frame, to present the platen properly to the types, or for other reasons. There is also maintained the usual roller bearing of the shiftable carriage on a supporting rail. In the preferred form of the invention, I journal the roller in an arm pivotally connected to the carriage (instead of, as heretofore, journaling the roller directly on the carriage), and by employing an adjusting screw on the carriage in engagement with the arm to swing the latter on its pivot; thereby using the roller on its rail as a fulcrum on which the arm, as a lever, may lift and lower the carriage.

The case-shift frame must be guided, without undue lateral play, in its movements between case positions. The inertia of the carriage, whether by reason of shock received in the handling of the machine, or of shock due to the movement thereof by the drum spring, has heretofore resulted in faulty alignment of the types, in uncentering of the shift-frame, jamming of the same on its guides, and distortion of screws or other retaining parts.

In the preferred form of the invention, the shift-frame has a roller bearing on the right-hand side of a rail which guides the shift-frame in its movements between case positions. A slide which carries the roller is adjustable on the shift-frame perpendicularly to the rail, and, for this purpose, has a screw-and-slot engagement with the shiftframe, whereby the slide and roller may be locked in adjusted positions.

A feature of the invention is a novel, efficient and simple locking device of the caseshift lever; which device is certain in its locking action,'and is releasable with certainty upon mere pressure on the shift-keylever when return to lower-case position is desired.

This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 605,006, filed December 5, 1922, now Patent 1,642,196, dated Sept. 13, 1927.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of so much of the mechanism of an Underwood standard portable typewriter as involves the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view, in front elevation, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view, in side elevation, partly cross-sectional, taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a View, in side elevation, of the upper-case shift-key and lock mechanism therefor.

Figure 5 is a detail View in front elevation, showing the means for holding against displacement the carriage-guiding rail-portion of the shift-frame on which the forward part of the carriage runs.

Figure 6 is a detail view, in front elevation, partly cross-sectional, on the line 66 of Figure 3, of the platen-trueing adjustable mounting for the carriage-guiding rail or element of the shift-frame which supports the carriage.

Figure 7 is a perspective View of the machine.

The main frame 10 of the machine is set within and screwed to an outer ornamental frame 11. The main frame comprises side pieces 12 tied together by cross-pieces 13 and 14, one in front of the other. The platen case-shift frame, including as elements right and left hand side plates 15 and a rear crossplate 16, and also including a stiffening cross-beam member in the form of a carriage-guiding rail-element 88, is mounted for movement up and down, between three case positions, in the main frame. The case-shift frame is supported and guided in its caseshift movements by means of right and left hand arms 17, fast at their rear ends to a rock-shaft 18 pivotally mounted in the main frame, and having at their forward ends pins 19 set in recesses 20 in the forward lower edges of the side plates 15 of the caseshift frame, and on which pins the forward portion of the case-shift frame is supported. For further supporting and guiding the case-shift frame in its case-shift movements is another pair ofarms 21 pivoted at 22 to the side plates of the main frame at the rear thereof, and pivotally connected at their forward ends at 23 to the forward upper portions of the side shift frame.

The side plates 15 of the case-shift frame, at their lower edges, have flanges 24 offset inward thereon, and, when the case-shift frame is in its normal or lower-case position, it is supported, by means ofthese flanges 24, on screws 25 adjustably set into ears 26 on brackets 27, secured by screws 28 to the rear cross-piece 14 of the main frame. The brackets 27 have also upstanding arms 29 offset at 30 at their upper ends to form cars which carry adjustable screws 31, also for engagement with the flanges 24 to determine the upper-case position of the shift-frame. The middle-case position of the shift-frame is determined by screws 32 adjustably set into ears or offsets 33 on the upper ends of arms 34, pivoted at 35 to the main frame, one at each side thereof. When the shift frame is thrown by the middle-case key, inturned ears or offsets 36, formed on the lower edges of the side plates 15 thereof, engage the screws 32, and the case-shift frame is thereby arrested in middle-case position. By means presently to be described, the stoparms 34 are thrown to move the stopscrews 32 from the path of the ears 36 of the case-shift frame when the latter is to be thrown to upper-case position. The arms 34, one at each side of the machine, form with the cross-piece 37 a bail which is normally held in Figure 3 position, and. which is returned to Figure 3 position by a spring, not shown, but which connects the crosspiece 37 at one end thereof to one of the side pieces of the main frame.

For throwing the case-shift frame to middle-ease position a key 38 is employed. This key is on a lever 39, pivoted at 40 to a bracket 41 fast to the cross-piece 13 of the main frame. Rearward of the pivot 40 the lever 39 has an arm 42 which underlies an oflset 43 on the right-hand side of an arm 44 fast to the rock-shaft 18. Consequently, depression of the key 38 causes the arm 42 to rock the arm 44 upward and to turn the rock-shaft 18 accordingly. The arms 17 which support the case-shift frame, and which are also fast to the rock-shaft 18, are, therefore, also rocked upward, causing the case-shift frame to rise until the ears 36 on the side plates thereof engage the stopscrews 32 and determine the middle-case plates 15 of the caseposition. A spring 45, fast at one end to forward end an upright O terminating in therewith. The. lock-lever 47 is normally held in, and is returned to, its Figure 3 position by means of a spring 53 secured at one end to the lock-lever arm 52 and at its other end to the shift-key lever 39.

An offset 54 on the forward end of the lever 47 by engagement with the under edge of the shift-key lever 39, determines the throw of the lock-lever under the action of thespring 53; and an offset 55 on the rear edge of the upright 50 on the front of the lock-lever, by engagement with the upper edge of-the shift-key lever 39, causes the lock-lever to pick up and carry with it the shift-key lever after the finger-piece 51 on the lock-lever 47 has been depressed a sufii cient distance.

A bracket 56, secured to the main frame, has a slotted plate 57 at the upper end thereof to receive the lock-lever arm 52, and this slot terminates at a shelf 58, under which a shoulder 59 on the lock-lever may pass, and by means of which the lock-lever may be held down and the shift-key lever held in depressed or middle-case position. Whenthe case-shift lever is depressed by the key 38, it carries with it the lock-lever 47, but does not effect suflicient movement of the lock-lever to bring the shoulder 59 under the holding shelf or detent 58. When, however, the finger-piece 51 of the lock-lever is. depressed, that lever has a movement which is independent of the shift-key lever until the offset 55 reaches the shift-key lever, and then has a movement with .the shift key lever until the forward edge of the locklever arm 52 strikes against the shelf 58. Further pressure at this time upon the finger-piece 51 causes the arm 52 of the locklever to force down the shift-key lever in such manner that the shift-key lever is cleared of the offset 55 on the lock-lever. As the shift-key" lever is thus forced down, drawing with it the lock-lever arm 52, the shoulder 59 on the latter presently gets below the shelf or detent 58, and the clearance at this tinfe between theofiset 55 of the locklever and the upper edgeof the shift-lever permits a rocking movement of the locklever relative to the shift-lever, to permit the shoulder 59 to be brought under the shelf or detent 58, where it is held by friction due to the tensionof the return spring 45 of the shift-lever. The spring of the shift-lever and of its connections is, however, such that, when pressure is applied to the key 38, the frictional hold of the lock-lever on the shelf or detent 58 is released, so that the lock-lever, under the action of its spring.53, may be cleared of the detent 58, and the case-shift frame and case shift lever allowed to return to normal position.

For moving the case-shift frame to uppercase position, there is provided a key 60 on.

the forward end of a lever 61, pivoted at 62 to the bracket 41. Rearward of the pivot.

62 of the lever 61 is extended an arm 63, whichunderlies and is adapted to have a wiping engagement with a curved block 64 pinned to the left-hand side ofthe arm 44. The effective arm 63 on the upper-case-shift lever 61 is longer than the effective arm 52 on the lower-case-shift lever, and effects a throw of the case-shift frame suffcient to bring the flange 24 thereof to the stop-screw 31 which determines the upper-case position.

For throwing the middle-case stop-arms 34 and screws 32 out of the path of the stops 36 on the shift-frame, when theupper-caseshift lever is actuated, there is secured to the cross-piece 37, on which the arms 34 are carried, an arm 65 having 011 its upper end i a roller 66. This roller lies in the path of a curved lug or cam 67, formed as" an ear on a bracket 68 secured by screws 69 to the side of the upper-case-shift lever 61. The parts being in the normal or Figure 3 position, depression of the key 60 causes the lug 67 to depress the arm 65 and rock the bail, of which the arms 34 form part, around its pivot 35 in such direction as to throw the stop-screws 32 on the arms 34 forward of the stops 36 on the case-shift frame. The shift-lever 61 is supported in normal position by the roller 66 and arm 65.

The upper-case-shift lever is also provided with a device for locking it, and the caseshift frame, in upper-case position. This locking device comprises a lever 70, pivoted at 71 to the case-shift lever 61. At its forward upper end, the lock-lever carries a finger-piece 72; and, rear of its pivot 71, is extended in the form of an arm 73. The

locking device for the upper-case-shift lever also comprlses an arm 74, similar in some.

respects tothe arm 52 which looks the middle-case lever, but which is not an integral part of the lock-lever 70. The lock-arm 74 is pivoted at 71 independently of the locklever 70. A finger 75, forming a lower extension of the arm 74 below the pivot 71, is,

however, connected with the arm or tail 73.

of the lock-lever 70 by a spring 76; so that, when the finger-piece 7 2 is depressed to rock the arm 73 rearward, the spring 76causes the arm 74 to swing forward as a unit with the lock-lever 70 until the arm 74 strikes against a shelf or detent 77, similar to the shelf or detent 58, on the upper end of the bracket 56. The spring 7 6 thereupon yields to permit of further movement of the locklever 70 around its pivot 71 to bring a finger 80, thereon, to the shift-lever. Continued depression of the key 72 causes the shiftlever to be depressed by the lock-lever 70,

carrying with it the arm 74, which now slides down along the shelf 7 7 until a shoulder 81 on the arm 74 is free to be snapped under the shelf 77 by the tensioned spring 76. This occurs as the shift-lever completes its case-shift movement. If the finger-piece 72 be then released, the parts will nevertheless remain in upper-case position, by reason of frictional engagement of the shoulder 81 with the ledge or detent 77, due to the weight of the case-shift frame and carriage. To unlock the parts, it is simply necessary to press upon the key 60. Because of the yield of the parts, this pressure relaxes the pressure of the shoulder 81 onthe ledge or detent 77 sufficiently to permit a spring 78, connected at one end to the arm 74 and at its other end to the shift-lever 61, to return the arm 74 to Figure 4 position. The arm 74, in moving to Figure 4 position, acts through the spring 76, to return the lock-lever to its normal position with respect to the shiftlever, as determined by engagement of an offset 79, on the lock-lever, with the under edge of the shift-lever. The relative strength of the springs 76 and 78 is such that normally, and except when the arm 74 is pressed against the shelf 77 the spring 76 will hold the arm 74 against a stop 82 on the locklever 70. Instead of operating the shiftlever by means of the lock-lever finger-piece, the shift-lever may be operated by its key 60; and, while it is depressed, the fingerpiece 72 may be depressed to rock the locklever 70 with respect to the shift-lever in such manner as to tension the spring 76 and throw the lock-arm 74 forward to cause the shoulder 81 thereof to engage under the ledge or detent 77.

A platen 83 is revolubly mounted in the side plates 84 of the carriage, which is movable in letter-feed and return directions on the case-shift frame, but which is guided by and also shifted as a unit up and down by the case-shift frame from one to another case position. The side plates 84 are connected by a cross-piece or tie 85 at the rear, andv by another cross-piece or tie 86 below the platen, and by the member 88 which serves as a beam or tie rod to give the light frame the requisite stiffness. The cross-piece 86 is supported by roller-bearings 87 on the carriage-guiding runway 88 secured to the remainder of the case-shift frame. A roller 142, carried by a bracket-arm 143, secured to the cross-piece 86, engages the under side of the element 88 to hold the forward part of the carriage to the element 88. The carriage cross-p1ece 85 carries a roller 89, by means of which the carriage is supported at its rear on a rail 90 formed on the upper edge of the rear cross-piece 16 of the case shift frame.

It is desirable to have the carriage guidingmember 88 of the case-shift frame adjustable so that the same and the platen may be made to move truly with relation to the types, or so that the platen maybe trued relatively to the printing types, whereby the types (arrested by the usual abutment when in printing position) may strike with equal force on the platen throughout its length. To this end, the guiding member or element 88 is not made fast directly to the other elements of the case-shift frame, but is attached at either end to said other elements, by means of screws 91, which are threaded in a flange or arm 92 forming part of a U-shaped piece or slide 93 set against the inside face of the corresponding side plate 15 forming another element of the case-shift frame. A screw 94, passing-through a horizontal slot 95 in the side plate element of the case-shift frame, threads into the central member 96 of each U piece. When the screws 94 are loosened, the U pieces, with the guide element 88 attached th'ereto, all forming a carriage-supporting, guiding, and shifting element, ma

be adjusted forward and rearward, an when so adjusted, and the element 88 is trued with relation to the types, the guide element 88 will be held in such adjusted position upon tightening of the screws 94. For effecting the adjusting movement of the U pieces and attached guide element 88, the forward flanges or arms 97 of the U pieces are in threaded engagement with screws 98. These screws, by means of their heads 99 and c0llars 100, are held fast to ears 101 stamped or turned inward out of the side plates 15.

Upon revolution of the screws 98 in one or the other direction, therefore, the carriageguiding element 88, at one or the other, or both ends, is moved forward or backward, to make the type-impressions even for the length of the platen. Lock-nuts 102 on the screws 98 maintain the adjustment. To provide guideways for the U sections 96 and to assure horizontal movement thereof and of the guide element 88, bosses 108, preferably four of them, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, are pressed or sheared inward out of the body of the side plate elements of the shiftframe. It will beseen that the carriage supporting, guiding and shifting element 88, 92, 93, 97, together with the balls 87, the carriage-rail 86, the carriage, and the platen, are all adjusted or trued as a unit relatively to the main frame 11 and the printing types 104 on said main frame.

In order that the rear portion of the carriage may be adjustable bodily at both ends simultaneously upward and downward with respect to the rail 90, so as to bring the platen in proper position with respect to the types 104, the following means is provided. The axle of the roller 89 is not directly mounted upon therail 85. As shown in Figure 2, the axle 105 of the roller 89 is revolubly supported in an arm 106 pivotally attached at 107 to an ear 108 depending from the forward edge of the rail 85. Adjustable connection of the arm 106 to an ear 109 is formed by a slot 110 in the arm 106 and by a screw 111 which passes through the slot 110 and threads into the ear 109. When the screw is loosened, the arm may be lifted or lowered to adjusted position, and, when the screw is tightened, is held in such adjusted position. For effecting the adjusting movements, there is a screw 112 which is threaded through the cross-piece, 85 and which is adapted to bear upon an ear or offset 113 on the arm 106. When the screw is withdrawn upward, the weight of the carriage causes the arm 106 and roller 89 to follow the screw. When the screw is turned downward against the ear 113, the arm 106 and roller 89 are pressed down and the cross-piece in rear of the carriage correspondingly elevated on the rail 90. A lockmut 114 holds the screw 112 in adjusted position. It will be understood that the roller 89 at all times rests upon the rail 90, and that the axis of the roller serves as a fulcrum around which the arm 106, as a lever, lifts or lowers the carriage as the screw 112 is turned. For anchoring the carriage to the rail 90, so that the samemay not be lifted clear thereof, the arm 106 has an ear or lug 115 turned under the rail 90 from the lower edge of the arm.

As a guideway or guide for the shiftframe in its up-and-down movements on the main frame, there is attached to the rear cross-piece 116 of the outside or ornamental frame 11 a vertical arm or rail 117. This rail is secured by screws 118 to a boss 119 on the inner face of the cross-piece 116. The arm or rail 117 is further anchored against displacement on the boss 119 by ears 120, which are formed on the arm 117 and which embrace the boss 119. A roller 122, carried by a bracket 123 secured to the inner face of the rear cross-piece 16 of the shifbframe, is adapted to bear against the right-hand side of the arm or rail 117; and an ear or flange 124, on the left-hand side of the rail 117, struck out of the cross-piece 16, defines, with the roller 122, the runway in which the arm or rail 117 has movement with respect to the case-shift frame in the caseshift movements of the latter. Whereas the roller 122 is intended to bear upon the rail 117, the rail 117 will ordinarily not bear upon the ear 124; the latter serves rather as a guard than as a bearing for the rail' 117. For correctly positioning the roller 122 with respect to the rail 117, the bracket 123, on which the roller 122 is journaled, is longitudinally adjustable on the shift-frame cross-piece 16.. This adjustability is obtained by having horizontal slots 125 in the cross-piece 16 and by having screws .126 passed through these slots and threaded into the bracket 123. When the screws are loosened, the bracket. 123, with the roller, may be adjusted perpendicularly ,to the edge of the rail 117; and, when such adjustment has been effected, the screws may be tightened to hold the bracket and roller in adjusted position.

The usual carriage drum-spring (not shown) tends to throw the carriage to the left, and the inertia of the carriage, when thrown under the impulse of the drumspring, tends-to displace or force the shiftframe leftward with respect to the main frame. As the roller 122 bears upon the right-hand side of the guide-rail 117, such leftward displacements of the shift-frame tend to cause the roller to be dislocated by the rail 117, or to be jammed with respect thereto. The screws 126 tend to resist this action, but these screws sometimes fail to hold, or themselves become distorted; and it is desirable to relieve them of these strains. For this purpose, there is provided, at the right-hand side of the bracket 123, a block 12 When this .block is in place, it abuts the end of the bracket 123and holds the same fixed against rightward movement. The block 127 is in the form of a wedge, and the end of the bracket 123, which abuts the block, is cut at the same incline as the wedge surface of the block. The block is adjustable up and down upon the inner face of the cross-piece 16 of the shift-frame. For this purpose, there is provided a vertical slot 128 in the cross-piece 16, and a screw 129 passes through this slot and threads into the block. When the screw is loosened, the block may be moved up and down, and, when tightened, the block is held in place. In fixing the parts, the block is held up while the position of the bracket 123 and roller 122 is determined and fixed by the screws 126. Thereupon the block is forced down until it is wedged firmly against the end of the bracket 123, after which the screw 129 is tightened. Thus the parts are held firmly at all adjustments of the roller device.

A bracket 130 (see Figure 5) is secured by a screw 131 to the front face of the carriage-guiding shift element 88 at each end thereof. Each bracket is horizontally slotted as at 132, and the screw 131 passes through the slot and threads into the shift-frame element 88. l/Vhen the screw is loosened, the bracket may be moved longitudinally of the element 88. Each bracket carries, or has as part thereof, a block 133 which is set against the under edge of the railbetween the latter and a shoulder 134 formed in the corresponding side plate 15 of the carriageshift-frame. As shown in Figure 5, the under surface of the block (whose operation is similar to block 127) is tapered as at 135, so that, when the screw 131 is loosened, the block may be moved so as to be wedged.

between the shoulder 134 of the plate and the element 88. There is at each side of the machine an adjustable bracket 136 secured to the shift-frame by a screw 137 and also held against upward movement on the shiftframe by an ear 138, which is struck upward from the top edge of the shift-frame and against which the upper edge of the bracket 136 abuts. The bracket 136 has a finger or tongue 139 thereon, which is extended rearward to overlie and bear upon the upper edge of the shift-frame element 88. As shown in Figure 3, this finger 139 may be slightly oflset downward at its end, or made thinner at its end, as at 140, to provide ample clearance for the forward edge or lip of the carriage cross-piece 86. The side plates 15 of the case-shift frame are slotted where they receive the screws 137; and these slots, and the ears 138, are at a downward and rearward incline, so that, if the screws 137 are loose, the brackets 136 andfingers 139 will be pressed or cammed down on the top edge of the element 88 upon rearward movement of the brackets 136. After the fingers 139 have been thus firmly set upon the element 88, the screws 137 are tightened to hold the fingers in place.

It will be seen that upward movement of the carriage-guiding shift element 88 is prevented by means of tongue 139, while opposite movement is prevented by block 133. Said parts 139 and 133 therefore co-operate in the manner of jaws between which the carriage-guiding shift element 88 is received.

. Saidjaw 139 has a cam 0r inclined-plane element at 136, 137 and moves downwardly when moving rearwardly, thus lowering the jaw 140, and vice versa. When jaw 133 is moved to the right, the cam edge 135 wedges the jaw 133 up, and vice versa. Thus in securing an angular adjustment of the element 88 (as distinguished from a translatory adjustment) the jaws may be set up or down, if required, sufficiently to make the carriage-guide shift element 88 level with the carriage track 90. The two elements 88 and 90 may therefore be brought into parallel horizontal planes. The jaws 139, 133 are set up tightly and therefore conduce substantially to rigidity of the light structure; the shocks being-taken by these jaws, which are rigidly secured after being set to bite the carriage-guiding shifter 88, thus relieving from strain the other parts such as 91, 96, 103, and providing against trouble from disalignment of the type impressions which would result from looseness of said other arts.

Machines of the portable class not only receive rough treatment in being conveyed from place to place by the user, but are often delivered by express or parcel post, and in the. course of such delivery are thrown violently about. Because of the inertia 'of the carriage and shift-frame, such treatment of the machine often causes the screws, and other elements which hold the parts together, to be strained and distorted,

fective after the member 88 has been thereby set and secured in correct position on said body portion and throughout the life of the machine. These rails and their connec- .tions may be light, and yet strong enough for ordinary usage; but, if light, may be distorted and the rails thrown out of parallel by the rough usage referred to. The jaws 139 and 133 are each capable of wedging action for buttressing the carriage-- guide and shifter 88 and hence may be so tightly set as to preclude all play of the latter after it is in correct position. In other words, the effective setting of the carriage-guide shifter element 88 is not disturbed, nor the screws and other attachments strained, by shocks due to the jumping of the carriage or rough handling of the machine.

' The trouble is overcome by the carriageguiding shift element 88 frequently getting knocked up or down from its true position in the shift frame, from inertia of the carriage, or transportation shocks. The screws 91 and other connections of element 88 are relieved from the work of meeting such .shocks, and displacement of element 88 is prevented, as well as distortion thereof.

It has been hereinbefore stated that a spring, not shown, by drawing on the bail cross-piece 37, returns the stoparms 34 to normal position when the upper-caseshift key is released. It occasionally happens, particularly if the hand is on the platen-knob, that the spring mentioned throws the arms 34 to normal position before the stop-ears 36 on the shift-frame have.

had an opportunity to pass the ears 33 on the stop-arms 34. If this should happen, the case-shift frame, instead of returning to normal position, would come to rest with the ears 36 thereof on top of the ears 33 of the stop-arms 34. To prevent such an occurrence, the ears 36 on the shift-frame have lips 144 depending from the forward edges thereof. These lips are of a length suflicient, when the case-shift frame is in uppercase position, to cross the path of rearward movement of the cars 33 on the arms 34; thereby preventing passage of the ears 33 under the ears 36, and assuring return of the case-shift frame to lower-case position. without being interfered with by the stop-arms 34. t

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portion of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a case-shift typewriting machine, the combination with types and a platen, of a single-part platen-carriage, a non-traveling track-device therefor, guides, platentruing brackets slidable in said guides and carrying the ends of said track-device, said brackets-adjustable in said guides to true the platen relatively to the types, means associated with said guides and movable relatively to the brackets for effecting fine forward and backward adjustments of the brackets independently of each other, together with the carriage and platen bodily, and means for fastening each bracket where adjusted, said non-traveling track-device being bodily shiftable up and down together with said carriage and platen at the caseshifting operation, and said shiftable trackdevice directly controlling said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a single-part platen carriage, supporting means, a pair of plates adjustably carried by said supporting means, for independent adjustment forwardly or backwardly at either end, to secure evenness of the strength of the type impressions, and a non-traveling carriage-guiding and shifting element entirely carried by said plates to be adjusted therewith, together with the carriage bodily and transversely to the direction of case-shift movement, said non-traveling shift element having track means directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination'of a single-part platen carriage, supporting means, a pair of plates slidably carried by said supporting means, a non-traveling carriage-guiding and shifting element entirely carried by said plates, and means for giving said plates a sliding movement forwardly at one end and backwardly at the other end relative to'said supporting means, for adjusting the shift element and carriage bodily in a direction'transverse to the caseshift movement, said non-traveling shift element having track means directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement. I

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a single-part platen carriage, supporting means, a pair of plates slidably carried by said supporting means, a non-traveling carriage-guiding and shifting element sole guide against either forward or back ward displacement;

5 In a typewriting machine embodying a single-part platen carriage, and-type bars having a limited movement to printing position, thecombination of a non-traveling carriage-guiding shift element, a t air of members entirely supporting the shift element, and means for mounting said members for slidable movement at either end together with the carriage bodily relative to the type bars and at right angles to the type face at the end of its movement to printing position, said non-traveling shift element having means directly engaging said singlepart carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

6. In a typewriting machine embodying a single-part platen carriage, and type bars having a limited movement to printing posielement having track. means directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

7. In a typewriting machine embodying a single-part platen carriage, and type bars having a limited movement to printing position, the combination of a non-traveling carriage-guiding shift element, a pair of members entirely supporting the shift element, means for sliding said members together with the element and carriage bodily relative to the type bars and at right angles to the type face at the end of its movement to printing position, to adjust either member forwardly or backwardly relatively to the other member, and means forretaining the parts in adjusted position, said nontraveling shift element having track means directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward to which the rail-element is attached at either end, and means shifting with the caseshift fIiLlDG'fOI independently adjusting the position of the slides together with the carria e transversely to the direction of caseshi t movement.

9. In a typewritin machine, a platencarriage, a case-shift rame including a rail to serve as a. runway for the carriage, slides to which the rail-element is attached at either end, and means shifting with the shift frame for adjusting the slides, rail and carriage transversely to the direction, of case-shift movement, including ears or bosses on the slides, fixed ears or bosses, and screws connecting the fixed ears or bosses to those on the slides. I

10. In a' typewriting machine, a platencarriage, a sheet-metal case-shift frame including a rail to serve as a runway for the carriage, slides to which the rail-element is attached at either end, means shifting with the case-shift frame for adjusting the position of the slides, rail and carriage transversely to the direction of case-shift movement, and blocks sheared partly out of the sheet-metal of the case-shift frame to serve as guides for the slides.

11. In a typewriting machine, a platencarriage, a case-shift frame including a rail to serve as a runway for the carriage, and means shifting with the shift frame for adjusting an end of the rail-element to level it up and down parallel with the types when in printing position, including a take-up device for blocking the rail-element in any position to which it is adjusted.

12. In a typewriting machine, a platencarriage, a case-shift frame including a rail to serve as a runway for the carriage, adj ustable means shifting with the shift frame for positioning the rail-ele1nent, and take-up blocks adapted to be wedged between the rail-element and said adjustable means, to block the rail-element where adjusted.

13. In a typewriting machine, a platencarriage, a case-shift frame including a rail to serve as a runway for the carriage, ad-

justable means shifting with the shift frame for adjusting or leveling the rail-element up and down, and take-up blocks on the rail adapted to be wedged against the rail, after the rail-element is located, said blocks being tapered and being adjustable lengthwise of the rail-element.

14. In a typewriting machine, a platencarriage, a case-shift frame including a rail to serve as a runway for the carriage, adjustable means shifting with the shift frame for leveling the rail-element, and take-up blocks on the rail-element adapted to be wedged against the rail, after the rail-element is located," said blocks having screwand-slot connections with the rail-element for adjustment longitudinally thereof.

15. In a typewriting machine, a platencarriage, a case-shift frame including a rail to serve as a runway for the carriage, means bearing, against the shift rail for leveling the rail element, and take-up blocks to co-operbe wedged under the rail-element to co-operate with the rail and said leveling means,

after the rail-element is secured in position, said leveling means secured to the body of the shift frame and adapted to be set down on top of the rail-element.

16. In a typewriting machine, a platencarriage, a case-shift frame including a rail to serve as a runway for the carriage, a slide on the shift-frame body forming a leveling device including an adjustable finger on the slide adapted to be set over the rail-element, and take-up means for wedging the rail-element against the finger after the latter is adjusted.

17. In a typewriting machine, a platencarriage, a case-shift frame including a rail to serve as a runway for the carriage, means for leveling the rail-element on the body of the shift frame including a leveling slide on the shift-frame body and having a finger adapted to be set over the rail, an inclined rib on the shift frame for guiding the slide to adjust the finger up or down, and means to secure the rail-element according to the adjustment of said slide.

18. In a typewriting machine, a platencarriage, a case-shift frame including a rail to serve as a runway for the carriage, means for leveling the rail-element on the body of the shift frame including a leveling slide on the body of the shift frame, a finger on the slide adapted to be set over the rail-element, and means for camming the rail-element to force it against the finger after the rail-element is leveled on the body of the shift frame; the slide having a screw-and-slot engagement with the body of the shift frame for locking the slide and'finger in effective position. I

19. In a typewriting machine, a platencarriage, a case-shift frame including a rail to serve as a runway for the carriage, means for leveling the rail-element on the body of the shift frame including a leveling slide on the body of the shift frame, a finger on the slide adapted to be set over the rail-element, and means for camming the rail-element to force it against the finger after the rail-element is leveled on the body of the shift frame; the slide having a screw-and-slot engagement with the shift frame for lockin the slide and finger in effective position, said camming means including take-up blocks adaptedto be wedged against the lower side of the rail-element to set it against said finger, after the rail-element is leveled.

20. In a typewriting machine embodying a frame, a platen and a single-part carriage, the combination of a pair of plates adjustably carried by the frame, and means upon which the carriage is mounted for traveling and case-shifting movements, including a non-traveling carriage-supporting, shifting and guiding element along which the carriage travels and with which'it shifts from one case-position to another, said element being entirely carried by said plates and movable independently ,of the adjustment thereof, and said plates being adjustable relatively to each other, together with said element and said carriage bodily, in a direction to equalize the strength of the type impressions throughout the length of the platen by truing the ends of the platen relatively to each other, said non-traveling shift element having trackmeans directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or, backward displacement.

21. In a typewriting machine embodying V a frame, a platen and a single-part carriage,

the combination of a pair of plates slidably carried by said frame, means upon which the carriage is mounted for traveling and case-shifting movements, including a non-: traveling carriage-supporting, shifting and guiding element along which the carriage travels and with which it shifts from one case-position to another, said element being entirely carried by said plates and movable independently of the adjustment thereof, and means forgiving said plates independently of each other a sliding movement together with said element, and relatively to said frame for adjusting said element and said carriage bodily in a direction to equal- .ize the strength of the type impressions throughout the length of the platen by truing the ends of the platen relatively to each other, said non-traveling shift element having track means directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

- 22. In a typewriting machine embodying a frame and a single-part carriage, the combination of a pair of slidable plates, means eluding a non-travelin upon which the carriage is mounted for traveling and case-shifting movements, incarriage-supporting, shifting and gui 'ng element along which the carriage travels and with which it shifts from one case-position to another, said element being entirely carried. by said plates, means for giving said plates inde pendently of each other a sliding movement, together with said element and said carriage relatively to said frame, in a directionto equalize-the strength of the type impressions throughout the length of the platen by truing the ends of the. platen relatively to each other, and means for retaining the parts in adjusted position, said non-trayeling shift element having track means directly enga 4 'ng said single-part carriage to form its so e guide against either forward or backward displacement.

. 23. In a typewriting machine embodying a single-part carriage and type-bars having and with which it shifts from one case-post tion to another, a pair of members entirely supporting said element, and means for mounting said members for independent slidable movement, together with said element and said carriage bodily, in a direction at right angles to theprinting face of the type at the end of its movement to printing position to equalize the strength of the type impressions throughout the length of the platen by truing the ends of the platen relatively to each other, said non-traveling shift element having track means directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its .sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

24. In a typewriting machine embodying a single-part carriage and type-bars having a limited movement to printing position, the combination of means upon which the car-v riage is mounted for traveling and caseshifting movements, including a non-traveling carriage-supporting, shifting and guiding element along which the carriage travels and with which it shifts from one case-position to another, a pair of members entirely supporting said element, and means for ad- 'justing said members relatively to each other, to ether with said element and said carriage bodily, at right angles to the printing face of the type at the end of its movement to printing position to equalize the strength of the type impressions throughout the length of the platen by truing the ends of the platen relatively to each other,

"said non-traveling shift element having track means directly engaging said singlepart carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement. V

- 25. In a typewriting machine embodying asingle-part carriage and type-bars having a limited movement to printing position, the combinations of means upon which the carria e is mounted for traveling and caseshifting movements, including a non-traveling carriage-suppprting, shifting and guiding element along w 'ch the carriage travels and "with which it shifts from one case-position to another, a pair of members entirely supporting said element, means for sliding said members relatively to each other, together with said element and said carriage bodily, at right angles to the printing face of the type-bar at the end of its movement to' printing position, to equalize the strength of the type impressionsthroughout the length of the platen by truing the ends of the platen relatively to each other, and means for retaining the parts in adjusted position, said non-traveling shift element having track means directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward dislacement.

2Q. In a typewriting machine embodying a main frame and a single-part carriage, the combination of means upon which the carriage is mounted for traveling and caseshifting movements, including a non-traveling carriage-supporting, shifting and guiding element along which the carriage travels and with which it shifts from one case-position to another, and by the adjustment of which the strength of the type impressions may be equalized throughout the length of the platen, a pair of plates slidably carried, said element being entirely carried by said plates and movable for case-shifting independently of the adjustment thereof, and means for giving said plates a sliding movement relatively to the main frame and relatively to each other for adjusting said element, together with said carriage bodily, in a direction transverse to the case-shifting movement, said non-traveling shift element having track means directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

27. In a typewriting machine embodying a main frame and a single-part carriage, the combination of means upon which the carriage is mounted for traveling and caseshifting movements, including a non-traveling carriage-supporting, shifting and guiding element along which the carriage travels and with which it shifts from one case-position to another, and by the adjustment of which the strength of the type impressions may be equalized throughout the length of the platen, a pair of plates slidably carried, said element being entirely carried by said plates and movable for case-shifting independently of the adjustment thereof, means for giving said plates a sliding movement relatively to the main frame and relatively to each other, together with said element and said carriage bodily, in a direction transverse to the case-shifting movement, and means for retaining the parts in adjusted position, said non-traveling shift element having track means directly engaging said single-part carriage to'form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

28. In a typewriting machine embodying a main frame, a platen and a single-part carriage, the combination of means upon which the carriage is mounted for traveling and case-shifting movements, including a non-traveling carriage-supporting, shifting and guiding element along which the carriage travels and with which it shifts from one case-position to another, and by the adjustment of which the strength of the type impressions may be equalized throughout the length of the platen, a pair of plates adjustably carried, means for supporting said element as a unit on the plates for platentruing adjustment tranversely of the platenshifting movement, and a rock-shaft and parallel link motion for said element, said plates being adjustable relatively to each other, together with said element and said carriage bodily, in a direction to equalize the strength of the type impressions throughout the length of the platen by truing the ends of the platen relatively to each other, said non-traveling shift element having track means directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

29. In a typewriting machine embodying a main frame, a platen and a single-part carriage, the combination of means upon which the carriage is mounted for traveling and case-shifting movements, including a non-traveling carriage-supporting, shifting and guiding element along which the carriage travels and with which it shifts from one case-position to another, and by the adjustment of which the strength of the type impressions may be equalized throughout the length of the platen, a pair of plates adjustably carried, means for supporting said element as a unit on the plates for platentruing adjustment transversely of the platen-shifting movement, a rock-shaft and parallel link motion for said element, and means for moving said plates to adjust the position of said element, said plates being adjustable relatively to each other, together with said element and said carriage bodily, in a direction to equalize the strength of the type impressions throughout the length of the platen by truing the ends of the platen relatively to each other, said non-traveling shift element having track means directly engaging said single-part carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

30. In a typewriting machine embodying a main frame, a traveling carriage, a platen, and rearwardly-printing type-bars having limited movement to printing position, the combination of a nontraveling carriagetrack-and-shift-element directly engaging said carriage to guide the platen and carriage against either forward or backward displacement as they travel, said track-andshift-element supporting said carriage and platen and having a case-shifting movement bodily therewith as a unit relatively to the main frame, at all points in the travel of the carriage and platen, said platen journaled directly upon said carriage to shift therewith, and means for adjusting said carriagetrack-and-shift-element with said carriage and platen bodily as a unit forwardly or backwardly at one side of the machine rela tively to the other side and substantially at right angles to the type-bar at the end of its movement to printing position, independently of the case-shift movement, to obtain uniformity of type-impressing relation be tween the platen and the type-bars.

31. Machine constructed according to claim 30 and having means to retain the carriage-track-and-shift-element in adjusted position.

i 32. In a typewriting machine embodying pivoted rearwardly-striking type-bars, a traveling carriage, a platen journaled directly upon said carria e, and a non-traveling carriage-track-and-s liift-element directly engaging said carriage to guide the carriage and platen against either forward or backward displacement at all points in their travel, said track-and-shift-element supporting said carriage and platen and having a case-shifting movement bodily therewith as a unit at all points in the travel of the carriage and platen, the combination with an abutment fixed in the paths ofthe type-bars and against which the type-bars strike upon reaching printing positions, to limit their movements in printing, of means for aifording an adjustment of said carriage-trackand-shift-element with said carriage and platen bodily as a unit either forwardly or backwardly at either side of the machine independently of the other side and independently of the case-shift movement, to

afford equally strong impressions of thetype-bars on the platen throughout the line of typing.

33. In a typewriting machine embodying pivoted rearwardly-striking type-bars, a

- platen and a traveling carriage upon which the platen is directly journalpd, and non traveling supports for said carriage, said carriage, carriage-supports and platen having a case-shift movement as a unit, the combination with an abutment fixed in the paths of the type-bars and against which the typebars strike upon reaching printing positions to limit their movements in printing, -0 means for adjusting said supports, carriage and platen, all as a unit, in a direct line, independently of the case-shift movement, to afford equally strong impressions of the type-bars on the platen throughout the line of typing, and means for holding the supports in adjusted position.

34. In a typewriting niachine embodying a main frame, a platen, a carriage upon which the platen is directly journaled, and

pivoted type-bars, the combination of a nonmeans for adjusting either end of said shift 4 element together with the carriage and platen bodily as a unit relatively to the main frame independently of and transversely to the case-shift movement, to obtain uniformity of typedmpressing relation between the platen and the type-bars for the entire length of the platen, said non-traveling shift element directly engaging said carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

35. In a typewriting machine embodying a main frame, a platen, a carriage upon which the platen is directly jo'urnaled, and type-bars having a limited movement to printing position, the combination of a nontraveling shift element guiding and supporting said carriage, and means for mounting said shift element for independent adjustment at either end, together with the carriage and platen bodily as a unit relatively to the main frame and at right angles to the type-face at the end of its movement to printing position, said non-traveling shift element directly engaging said can riage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

36. In a typewriting machine embodying a main frame, a platen, a carriage upon which the platen is directly journaled, and

type-bars having a limited movement to printing position, the combination of a nontraveling shift element guiding and supporting said carriage, and means movable for effecting fine adjustment of said shift element at either end together with said carriage and platen bodily as'a unit relatively to the main frame and at right angles to the type-face at the end of its movement to printing position, said non-traveling shift element directly engaging said carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

37. In a typewriting machine embodying is main frame, a platen, and a carriage upon which the platen is directly journaled, the combination of a non-traveling shift element guiding and supporting said carriage forcase-shift movement, means for mounting said shift element for adjustment at either end together with said carriage and platen bodil as a unit relatively to the main frame and indeiendently of and transversely to sition, the combination of a platen, a carriage upon which the platen is directly journaled, said carriage having case-shift movement, a non-traveling shifting, supporting and guiding element therefor, and means for mounting said supporting and guiding element for adjustment at either end together with the carriage and platen bodily as a unit in a direct line independently of and transversely to the case-shift'movernent, to afford full and uniform impressions of the type-bars on the platen for the length of the latter, said non-traveling shift element having track-means directly engaging said carriage to form its sole guide against,either forward or backward displacement.

39. In a typewriting machine embodying a main frame, a carriage, a platen directly journaled thereon, and pivoted type-bars, the combination ofa non-traveling shift element guiding and supporting the carriage for case-shift movement, means for mounting said shift element at each end for independent bodily end adjustment with said platen and carriage as a unit relative to the type-bars in a direction transverse to the case-shift movement to obtain-proper relation between the carriage and the type-bars, means movable for effecting such adjustment at either end, and operating means connected to said shift element in a manner to preserve proper relation between said operating means and shift element in all adjustments of the latter, said non-traveling shift element having track-means directly engaging said carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement. ,7

40. In a ease-shift typewriting machine, the combination of swinging type-bars, a platen against which the type-bars strike rearwardly, a carriage upon which said platen is directly journaled, non-traveling supporting, guiding and case-shifting elements therefor, and 'means for adjusting said supporting elements and platen-carriage bodily as a unit in a direct line either forwardly or backwardly at either side of the machine relatively to the other side and independently of the case-shift movement, to true the platen and thereby afford full and uniform impressions of the type-bars throughout the typing line, said supporting and case-shifting elements including nontraveling means directly engaging said carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

41. In a typewriting machine embodying a main frame, a carriage, a platen directly journaled thereon, and pivoted type-bars, the combination of a non-traveling shift element guiding and supporting said carriage for case-shift movement, and means for mounting said shift element by its ends for independent forward and backward bodily adjustment at either end, together with said carriage and platen as a unit, relatively to the main frame and independently of and transversely to the case-shift movement, to obtain uniform type-impress ing relation between the platen and the type-bars throughout the line of typing, said non-traveling shift element having trackmeans directly engaging said carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement.

42. In a typewriting machine embodying a carriage, a platen j ournaled directly upon said carriage, pivoted rearwardly-striking type-bars, an abutment fixed in the paths of the type-bars and against which the typebars strike upon reaching printing positions to limit their movements in printing, and means upon which the carriage is mounted for traveling and case-shifting movements, including a non-traveling carriage supporting, shifting and guiding element along which the carriage travels and with which it shifts from one case-position to another, said non-traveling element including trackmeans directly engaging said platen-carriage to form its sole guide against either forward or backward displacement, the combination of means for affording adjustment of said .carriage-track-and-shift-element together with said carriage and platen bodily as a unit either forwardly or backwardly at either side of the machine independently of the other side and independently of the case-shift movement, said adjustment means including a-pair of sliding plates upon which said carriage guiding and shifting track-element is entirely carried, and also including means movable for giving said plates, independently of each other, a fine forward or backward sliding adjustment together with said element, relatively to the type-bars, in a direction to equalize the strength of the type-impressions throughout the length of the platen by truing the ends of the platen relatively to each other, and securing means settable to retain the plates in adjusted positions.

WILLIAM A. DOBSON. 

